Chodesh Elul: Difference between revisions

#Some say one may not recite Selichot of a different tradition instead of his own, such as Ashkenazim reciting Selichot with Sephardim and vice versa, as we are all obligated to preserve the traditions of our families/communities. However, if one personally finds the other community's version to be inspirational, he may join their Minyan on condition that he also recites the Selichot of his own traditoin, as well.<ref>Teshuvot Avigdor HaLevi (Nebenzal) OC page 406, 581:4. The footnotes ad loc. note how Rav Yaakov Ariel permits it. Rav Shalom Meshash (Shemesh uMagen vol. 4 Orach Chaim 72:1) also rules that one must recite the Nusach of his community, even if he, for example, is a Sephardi student in an Ashkenazi yeshiva. Rav Mordechai Lebhar (Magen Avot, Orach Chaim 581:1) questions why this is so, since it's not part of the official seder hatefillah and is just Tefillot and Bakashot to Hashem. As long as it increases one's Kavanna, what could be wrong, he asks. Rav Yaakov Ariel (Halacha Beyamenu page 310, "[https://www.toraland.org.il/%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%92-%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91/%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%94-%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%95/%D7%A9%D7%A2%D7%A8-%D7%93-%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%94/%D7%94%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%93%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%AA/ ההלכה והציונות הדתית דיבור המתחיל שמרנות עדתית]") writes similarly that in an education institution it's an opportunity to introduce and familiarize the students with each other's traditions. Things like Selichot and Zemirot, which are not institutions of the Anshei Kenesset HaGedolah, should not fall behind the limits of Ashkenazi and Sepharadi traditions barring each community from participating in each other's services.</ref>